Display device with backlight having a frame with first and second hook-like members and a blocking member for affixing an optical plate

ABSTRACT

A display device with a structure which is used to affix an optical plate on a frame in a panel of the display device. The optical plate has a protruding region with a slit. The structure includes a first hook-like member, disposed on one side of the frame and having an extending portion for passing through the slit and hooking the protruding region of the optical plate. A blocking member is disposed on the side of the frame and separated from the first hook-like member, having a sidewall against an edge of the protruding region of the optical plate.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This is a divisional application of application Ser. No. 10/907,104,filed on Mar. 21, 2005, which is now allowed. The entirety of theabove-mentioned patent application is hereby incorporated by referenceherein and made a part of this specification.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to assembling technology in panel display.More particularly, the present invention relates to a structure foraffixing an optical plate, that is, optical film on a frame in a paneldisplay.

2. Description of Related Art

The display is an essential tool to display the information of a graphicimage or text image to a viewer. For example, TV shows the image to theuser through the display, or the computer system uses the displayterminal to show the information in operation. Therefore, the displaydevice is one of the key tools in the daily life to have the informationcommunication. The display device has been developed from the ratherconventional cathode-ray tube (CRT) to the panel display, such as liquidcrystal display (LCD) device.

The LCD is more and more popular, and the image quality is more and morerequired. For the LCD device, the optical plate, which is affixed onto aframe, often cause the poor image quality, due to a shift of position.In the currently conventional method, the optical plate is positioned tothe plastic frame and then a tape is used to affix it at one side or aclamping piece is used to clamp it to the frame. FIGS. 1A-1E show theconventional structure to affix the optical plate.

In FIG. 1A and FIGS. 1C-1D, the optical plate 100 used in the LCD deviceusually includes an optical diffusion layer, an optical prism layer, afunctional layer, . . . and so on, which are stacked as a flexibleoptical layer or optical plate. In order to affix the optical plate 100onto a frame 106, a protruding portion 102 is arranged. The protrudingportion 102 has a hole 104, so that the hole 104 can be fitted to aposition pin 112 at the frame 106. In FIG. 1B and FIGS. 1C-1D, theaffixing structure 90 is formed at a desired location of the frame 106.A portion of the frame 106 is shown in FIG. 1B. The position pin 112 isto engage with the hole 104 of the optical plate 100. The optical plate100 is indented onto the frame 106 at a region 110 and is to adapt theprotrusion portion 102. After the hole 104 is engaged onto the positionpin 112, a tape 114 is used to further affix the optical plate 100 ontothe frame at the region 108. In FIG. 1D, from the side view, theconventional affixing mechanism is shown. Also, another method is usingthe clamping piece as shown in FIG. 1C and FIG. 1E. When the opticalplate 100 is positioned to the position pin 104, the clamping piece 116is used instead of the tape 114.

For the foregoing conventional manners, it has some disadvantages. Dueto the limitation of the required size, the region for affixing theoptical plate, such as the protrusion portion 102 is quite narrow. Andthen, during the assembly processes, such as adhering by tape, the tapeoften cannot firmly affix the optical plate due to the narrow space, anda shift of position may occur, or the optical plate is dropped away.Even, the residue of the glue of the tape may affect the property of theother device element. As result, the image quality is poor. In addition,either by taping or by clamping piece, both the manpower cost and thematerial cost increase.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a novel affixing structure on the frame, so thatthe assembly process for affixing the optical plate is easy withoutusing the tape or the clamping piece.

The invention provides a structure to affix an optical plate on a framein a display device. The optical plate has a protruding region with aslit. The structure includes a first hook-like member, disposed on oneside of the frame and having an extending portion for passing throughthe slit and hooking the protruding region of the optical plate. Ablocking member is disposed on the side of the frame and separated fromthe first hook-like member, having a sidewall against an edge of theprotruding region of the optical plate.

In another aspect of the present invention, the frame with the affixingstructure is formed by molding manner, so as to form an integrated bodyfor the frame.

In another aspect of the present invention, a top surface of theblocking member is slant and has an extending portion toward the firsthook-like member.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description are exemplary, and are intended toprovide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the invention, and are incorporated in and constitute apart of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments of theinvention and, together with the description, serve to explain theprinciples of the invention.

FIGS. 1A-1E are drawings, schematically illustrating the conventionalstructure to affixing an optical plate onto a frame of LCD.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view, schematically illustrating an affixingstructure on the frame, according to a preferred embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 3 is a top view, schematically illustrating a portion of an opticalplate 220 with a protrusion region, according to the preferredembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view, schematically illustrating theaffixing mechanism, according to the preferred embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view, schematically illustrating an affixingstructure on the frame, according to another preferred embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view, schematically illustrating the loadingstructure, according to one preferred embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the present invention, a hook-like structure is designed for theframe, so that the assembly process is simplified, and the optical platecan be easily affixed to the frame without using tape or clamping piece.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view, schematically illustrating an affixingstructure on the frame, according to a preferred embodiment of theinvention. FIG. 3 is a top view, schematically illustrating an opticalplate affixed to the frame by the affixing structure according to thepreferred embodiment of the invention.

In FIG. 2, the affixing structure disposed on one side of the frame 200includes a first hook-like member 204, a second hook-like member 208,and a blocking member 206. The first hook-like member 204 has anextending portion 202 and has an adapting space between the frame 200 toplace an optical plate 220, which is substantially equal to a thicknessof an optical plate 220, so as to firmly affix the optical plate 220when it is inserted in. The second hook-like member 208 also has anextending portion toward the first hook-like member 204 and also has anadapting space between the frame 200, which is substantially equal to athickness of the optical plate 220. The second hook-like member 208 isseparated from the first hook-like member 204 by a distance L. Thequantity of the distance L is choice depending on the size of aprotrusion region 222 of the optical plate 220, as to be describedlater. Then, the blocking member 206 is separated from the firsthook-like member 204 by a distance W, and the first hook-like member 204is positioned between the second hook-like member 208 and the blockingmember 206. The blocking member 206 may have a slightly slant topsurface 206 a, which is helpful for loading the optical plate 220, ascan be realized later. It should be noted that, the distance W is also adesign choice depending on the structure of the protrusion region 222 ofthe optical plate 220.

In FIG. 3, the optical plate 220 has at least one protrusion region 222,protruding from the side. The protrusion region 222 is located at thedesired position for affixing the optical plate 220. In order to engagewith the affixing structure on the frame 200 in FIG. 2, the protrusionregion 222 has slit 224, and the extending portion 202 of the firsthook-like member 204 is passing through the slit 224 for hooking theprotruding region 222. However, the distance of an end of the slit 224and an edge of the protrusion region 222, preferably, also has thedistance W. This effect can be seen in FIG. 4.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view, schematically illustrating theaffixing mechanism, according to the preferred embodiment of theinvention. The protrusion region 222 in shaded region of the opticalplate 220 is inserted into the first hook-like member 204 through theslit 224, and then is shifted into the adapting space. Here, if the topsurface 206 a of the blocking member 206 is in slightly slant, then itis helpful to shift the protrusion region 222 into the adapting space.However, the slant top surface 206 a is not the necessary requirement.As mention above, due to the distance W, the protrusion region 222,having an edge against a sidewall of the blocking member 206, isautomatically confined between the first hook-like structures 204 andthe blocking member 206. However, the distance L is sufficiently largeto load the protrusion region 222 of the optical plate 220.

Due to both the first hook-like structures 204 and the second hook-likestructures 208 having the extending member, the protrusion region 222 ofthe optical plate 220 can be affixed on the frame. The adapting spacebetween the first hook-like member 204 and the frame 200 and theadapting space between the second hook-like member 208 and the frame 200are substantially equal to the thickness of the optical plate 220, so asto firmly adapt the optical plate 220. As a result, the optical plate220 does not drop away. The present invention needs no tapes to affixthe optical plate onto the frame. The conventional issues, such as dropor glue residue, caused by the tape manner can be effectively reduced.

In addition, due to the well fit of the distance W, the optical plate220 can be prevented from shifting along the direction parallel to theslit 224. Also, the width of the slit 224 is mated to the width of thefirst hook-like member 204. As a result, the optical plate 220 isprevented from shifting along the direction perpendicular to the slit224. Thus, the optical plate 220 is affixed in three-dimensionaldirections. This can further reduce the possibility of poor imagequality. In other words, the quantities of the distance L and W are thedesign choice according to the design of the protrusion region 222 ofthe optical plate 220. The lengths of the extending portions of the twohook-like members 204 and 208 can also be varied, so as to firmly hookthe optical plate 220.

During assembly process, after the optical plate is engaged into theforegoing affixing structure, the assembly piece may be moved to otherplace for the subsequent assembly process. In this stage, the opticalplate may drop due to external force in transporting or shipment, thepresent invention provide another embodiment to improving the affixingcapability.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view, schematically illustrating an affixingstructure on the frame, according to another preferred embodiment of theinvention. The basic structure of the embodiment in FIG. 5 is similar tothe structure in FIG. 2. The difference is that the top surface of theblocking member 206 has additional extending portion 500, such as a tip,toward the first hook-like member 204. Therefore, the additionalextending portion 500 can improve the affixing capability to prevent theoptical plate from dropping.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view, schematically illustrating the loadingstructure, according to one preferred embodiment of the invention. InFIG. 6, the optical plate 220 is, for example, composed by three stacklayers, such as the diffusion plate, the prism plate, and anotherfunction layer. The protrusion region 222 has the slit 224 for allowingthe optical plate 220 to be loaded onto the frame 200. The blockingmember 206 has the slant top surface in the drawing. This is helpful toload the optical plate 220 onto the frame 200.

Due to the design of the present invention, the affixing structure is apart of the frame 200 and can be formed by for example molding manner.In other words, the manufacturer can modify the molding structure forforming the frame 200, and the affixing structure can be easily formedas an integrated single body. The frame 200 can be a rectangular orsquare shape as shown in FIG. 1C. Alternatively, the fame 200 can bejust a bar at one side. This depends on how to design the frame 200.However, the frame 200 may include at least one affixing structure ofthe present invention.

Generally, the affixing structure of the present invention can beapplied to the display device, for example, an LCD device. The displaydevice comprises a liquid crystal display panel for displaying image anda backlight for providing light to the liquid crystal display panel. Thebacklight at least comprises an optical plate assembled onto a frame.The frame preferably has affixing structure as described above of thepresent invention. Then, the flexible optical plate is affixed onto theframe using the affixing structure. The affixing structure of thepresent invention can be used together with another conventionalaffixing manner.

The present invention provides the hooking manner design forsimultaneously affixing the optical plate and positioning the opticalplate. The fabrication method for the frame is compatible with theconventional molding manner. The present invention can be easilyapplied. The fabrication cost is further reduced.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and variations can be made to the structure of the presentinvention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.In view of the foregoing descriptions, it is intended that the presentinvention covers modifications and variations of this invention if theyfall within the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.

1. A display device, comprising: a liquid crystal display panel; and abacklight, providing light to the liquid crystal display panel, whereinthe backlight at least comprises: an optical plate, comprising at leastone protruding region with a slit; a frame, for holding the opticalplate in assembly; and a structure, having a first hook-like member, asecond hook-like member, and a blocking member disposed on one side ofthe frame for affixing the optical plate on the frame, wherein the firsthook-like member is positioned between the blocking member and thesecond hook-like member, and the first hook-like member, the secondhook-like member, and the blocking member are arranged in a straightline of geometry, wherein the straight line of geometry is substantiallyparallel to a direction in which the first hook-like member and thesecond hook-like member latch to the slit of the optical plate.
 2. Thedisplay device of claim 1, wherein the first hook-like member has anextending portion for passing through the slit and hooking theprotruding region of the optical plate.
 3. The display device of claim1, wherein the blocking member has a sidewall against an edge of theprotruding region of the optical plate.
 4. The display device of claim2, wherein an adapting space is between the extending portion of thefirst hook-like member and the frame and is substantially equal to athickness of the optical plate.
 5. The display device of claim 1,wherein the blocking member has a slant top surface.
 6. The displaydevice of claim 1, wherein a top surface of the blocking member has anextending portion toward the first hook-like member.
 7. The displaydevice of claim 1, wherein the optical plate comprises an opticaldiffusion plate, a prism plate, or a functional optical plate used inthe display device.
 8. The display device of claim 1, wherein theoptical plate is stacked with at least two flexible layers.
 9. Thedisplay device of claim 1, wherein the second hook-like member has anextending portion toward the first hook-like member.
 10. The displaydevice of claim 1, wherein an adapting space is between the extendingportion of the second hook-like member and the frame and issubstantially equal to a thickness of the optical plate.
 11. The displaydevice of claim 1, wherein the protruding region of the optical plate isdisposed between the second hook-like member and the blocking member,and the protruding region of the optical plate has an edge against asidewall of the blocking member.
 12. A display device, comprising: aliquid crystal display panel: and a backlight providing light to theliquid crystal display panel, wherein the backlight at least comprises:an optical plate comprising at least one protruding region with a slit;a frame for holding the optical plate in assembly; and a structurehaving a first hook-like member, a second hook-like member, and ablocking member disposed on one side of the frame for affixing theoptical plate on the frame, wherein the first hook-like member ispositioned between the blocking member and the second hook-like member,and the first hook-like member, the second hook-like member, and theblocking member are arranged in a straight line of geometry, wherein thestraight line of geometry is substantially parallel to a direction inwhich the first hook-like member and the second hook-like member latchto the slit of the optical plate, the first hook-like member passesthrough the slit of the optical plate, and the protruding region of theoptical plate is confined between the first hook-like member and theblocking member.
 13. The display device of claim 1, wherein the blockingmember is separated from the first hook-like member.